San Jose restaurateurs rally against Styrofoam ban

Some San Jose restaurateurs really hate the idea of a ban on Styrofoam food containers. They’ve enlisted a PR firm and are deploying local food entrepreneurs to argue that the food container business will push commerce out of the city.

Paul Orozco, owner of Pauly’s Famous Franks n Fries, got on a call with me today that was set up by the PR firm engaged by the California Restaurants Association. His take? The polystyrene container ban will push up his container costs by a multiple of two or three.

That’s bad, he says. Worse? The alternatives don’t work well. They leak, or don’t insulate food, he says.

“We want to do what’s right, but some factors don’t stack up, like usability,” said Orozco, who owns two Pauly’s locations as well as three Iguana’s Burrito’s outlets.

He says that between the proposed container ban, an upcoming bump in the minimum wage and looming health-care cost increases, it’s tough for a small restaurateur to make his nut in San Jose.

That’s why he’s opening his next Pauly’s location in Santa Clara, he says.

Orozco may run out of places to hide from Styrofoam bans in the Bay Area. Already, 30 other city and county bans are in effect in the Bay Area, according to Save the Bay.

The PR push by restaurateurs follows a press event on Feb. 22 at Selma Olinder Park, where San Jose City Councilman Sam Liccardo, who has supported the ban, was joined by representatives of Save the Bay.

Orozco says he thinks of Liccardo as a friend of small business and plans to support him should the councilman run for mayor, as some have suggested is likely.